(Oneonta, New York – July 22, 2011)
A retired railroader questioned the safety policies of Canadian Pacific Railroad on both sides of the border at an Oneonta, NY Common Council meeting recently, prompting Oneonta Mayor Dick Miller to write the railroad in regard to the pedestrian safety concerns expressed at the meeting.
Oneonta resident Walt Forsythe, a retired locomotive engineer from both the Delaware & Hudson Railroad and Amtrak, pointed out that Canadian Pacific Rail has pedestrian crossings, consisting of flashing lights and gates, throughout Canada, but to his knowledge have none of the sophisticated safety devices at pedestrian crossings along CPR tracks on the American side of the border.
Oneonta is bisected by Canadian Pacific rails, and despite a 2.2 mile distance between legal road crossings, no pedestrian crossings are provided, thus inciting pedestrians to create their own pathways to the local swimming pool complex and an elementary school. Yet, CP Police have been harassing pedestrians who use well-worn paths across the railroad right-of-way to access the pool and school.
Mayor Miller said he wrote CP Rail on July 7, and The Daily Star e-mailed CPR media spokesman Mike LoVecchio Thursday. Both entities are still awaiting any response from the railroad in regard to the dangerous situation.